Clipse, Glamorama, Reel Big Fish, and more

WEDNESDAY 8.12

Reel Big Fish

Minnesota Zoo Weesner Amphitheater

Despite having been a band since 1990, Reel Big Fish didn't really make waves until ska's revival in the mid-to-late '90s, when the band had their biggest hit to date, "Sell Out." Later, they appeared in Trey Parker and Matt Stone's spoof BASEketball, in which they performed a rendition of a-ha's "Take on Me." Perhaps it was simply a coincidence, perhaps it was foreshadowing, but the band would go on to cover nearly a dozen other hits on their most recent album, Fame, Fortune and Fornication. From Poison to John Mellencamp to Desmond Dekker, Reel Big Fish cover them all, and a few of that album's songs are likely to break out at the live show. The band members are also presently in the process of recording another collection of original songs, which is scheduled for release later this year. Also performing will be one of the bands Reel Big Fish covered on FFF, the English Beat. All ages. $34. 7:30 p.m.13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple Valley; 952.431.9200. —Chris DeLine

Beres Hammond

First Avenue

With a voice like fine sandpaper and a string of dancehall hits that yearn for rock-steady, not just lovers rock, Beres Hammond might be Jamaica's greatest contemporary singer—a natural successor to Alton Ellis in the digital age. Yet Hammond has a funky streak going back to the '70s: Rapper Brother Ali lifted the riddim from Zap Pow's "Last War," on which Hammond sang lead, for 2004's "Champion" remix. Hammond's band is as subtly insinuating as reggae gets, as evidenced on last year's "I Feel Good," from A Moment in Time, and his more recent single "See You Again." Opener Kenyatta Hill is the son of Joseph Hill, who fronted the legendary roots trio Culture, and the resemblance is uncanny. Warming up is Lenya Wilks, a teenage Jamaican R&B sensation launched by Digicel Rising Stars, the island's popular talent-reality TV show. With DJ Inferno. 18+. $16/$18 at the door. 8 p.m. 701 First Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612.332.1775. —Peter S. Scholtes

THURSDAY 8.13

40 oz. to Freedom

Station 4

Though it might be a little much to expect any surprise guests to show up (as happened at the band's recent Hollywood show, where Angelo Moore of Fishbone joined the band for "Date Rape"), it wouldn't be unreasonable to hope to see a few shots of Jäger to be downed, or a hell of a show from what is arguably the world's greatest Sublime tribute band, 40 oz. to Freedom. Formed in 2007, the quartet consists of some major players in San Diego's music scene: vocalist/guitarist Dane Scott (three-time San Diego Music Award nominee), keyboardist Jeremy Miller (the Fryday Band), drummer Los Perez (Splitfinger), and bassist Sol Turpin (the Troyz/Safety Orange). Though they may be gone, the brilliant ska/punk sounds of Sublime will likely never be forgotten, at least not if 40 oz. to Freedom has any say in the matter. 18+. $12/$15 at the door. 8 p.m. 201 E. Fourth St., St. Paul; 651.298.0173. —Chris DeLine

FRIDAY 8.14

Clipse

First Avenue

Though 2006's Hell Hath No Fury contained some of the greatest Neptunes-made beats on rap's concrete Earth, Clipse's version of a budding noir conscience turned out to be advising young pushers to move up the ranks quickly rather than stay vulnerable on the streets. Which is a little like telling hungry rappers to become overnight immortals, maybe by calling on your super-producer friends from Virginia Beach. Yet Clipse possess a steely consumerist argot all their own, whether or not they use the industry behind our most antisocial narcotic as a metaphor. They're touring ahead of a third non-mixtape album, Til the Casket Drops, for which they presumably did not get beats for cheap—producers include Timbaland, Diddy, Kanye, and Rick Rubin. They perform as part of Sneaker Pimps: The World's Largest Sneaker Hip-Hop Lifestyle Show, with openers Muja Messiah and Parallax. 18+. $20/$25 at the door. 8 p.m. 701 First Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612.332.1775. —Peter S. Scholtes

Glamorama

Orpheum Theatre

It's hard to say whether anything could top last year's Glamorama double bill of Cyndi Lauper and MC Hammer (which was random, old school, and ultimately a spectacular show), but that won't stop this Macy's charity event from trying to outdo itself once again. At the very least, this year's lineup is more eclectic; classy R&B crooner Ne-Yo will headline, with American Juniors (an off-shoot of American Idol) finalist and Babyface collaborator Kristinia DeBarge opening. And to top things off, local jazz trio the New Standards (featuring the Suburbs' Chan Poling and Semisonic's John Munson), will warm up the crowd with their unique covers of contemporary songs, from Nirvana to OutKast to the Clash. The show will feature fashion from some of Macy's top designers (Marc Jacobs, Jean Paul Gaultier), a glittery after-party, and a bevy of cocktails and appetizers for attendees. The ticket prices are steep, but the money goes toward a good cause—funds raised at the Minneapolis version of this event will benefit the Children's Cancer Research Fund. $75-$250. 8 p.m. 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612.339.7007. —Andrea Swensson

SATURDAY 8.15

Cracker

First Avenue

Cracker's latest, Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey, may scream clear-eyed optimism in its title, but longtime crumbs David Lowery and Johnny Hickman instead are exercising their well-known eccentricities across a batch of songs loaded with irony and a jaundiced outlook. The lacerating title track, in fact, is all about skirting the apocalypse. Virtually all the material was written by the entire band, which also includes bassist Sal Maida and drummer Frank Funaro, and the sound wanders from power pop to punk, new wave, Southern rock, bluesy reveries, and inebriated country. It all hangs together maybe better than you'd think, because the band plays it fast and loose and there is, at the core, an anthemic quality fueled in large part by the guitars. The lyrics, meanwhile, are about as wacked-out quirky as those of Lowery's other band, Camper Van Beethoven, with musings about the sorry state of the world referencing soldiers in Iraq, mysterious objects from space, a Pakistani cricket team, a 1983 riot at a Dead Kennedys show, Captain Beefheart, and a renewed interest in the old '60s inclination to turn on, tune in, and drop out. With Cracker crankin' 'em, it pretty much is a riot. With Dead Man Winter. 18+. $13/$15 at the door. 7 p.m. 701 First Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612.332.1775. —Rick Mason

TUESDAY 8.18

Blink-182

Xcel Energy Center

Nearly four years after the group went on hiatus, the members of Blink-182 announced at the Grammy Awards this past February that they would be reforming. With an album of new material in the works, the group took to its first tour this past July—a 50-plus-date journey that will see the band on the road through October. Known for their cheeky lyrics, the California pop-punk band saw their largest success with 1999's Enema of the State, which featured the massively popular singles "What's My Age Again?" and "All the Small Things." The album would go on to sell more than 15 million copies worldwide. It was followed up with 2001's Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, whose lead single, "The Rock Show," will be featured on the upcoming Guitar Hero 5 video game. After a breakup, hiatus, and a tragic plane accident that nearly took drummer Travis Barker's life, this pop-punk band is aiming to get back on top—here's hoping they mix in a few new songs with old favorites at tonight's show. Blink will be joined by Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, and Chester French. $29-$49. 6:30 p.m. 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; 651.726.8240. —Chris DeLine

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